April 4 at 10:30 a.m.
The moderator of the meeting is Maria Makeieva.
Journalist Irina Novik will present her first book “I am a Deserter”.
This is a collection of absolutely real stories of people who refused to participate in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
These are citizens of the Russian Federation, different in age, origin and views, who, due to circumstances, found themselves in the war or were one step away from it. But, guided by certain and not always the same considerations, they decided to flee.
Through the memories and direct speech of the deserters, for whom one sometimes feels sympathy and sometimes dislike, the absurdity, cruelty and absolute senselessness of the war unleashed by the Kremlin are traced.
“I Am a Deserter” is a profound and very important study of human actions and decisions against the backdrop of the tragic events of our time.
Along with the author, one of the book's heroes, a former Russian military man who escaped from the war and now lives in Germany, will be at the meeting.
Come talk about important topics:
- Why is it necessary to talk about the war in Ukraine on behalf of Russian servicemen?
- Should the West provide asylum to defectors?
- Are all Russian defectors heroes?
The meeting will be an open discussion and an autograph session at the end.
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Award is given annually. The jury votes, with each member selecting between one and three works. The winner is the author whose work receives the most votes. Additionally, a reader’s vote (Crowdfunding) is conducted on the Award’s website, where readers can vote for authors and support them financially.
What Awards Are Provided?
The winner of the Award receives a grant to translate the work into English, French and German. Also, as part of the reader's vote, all collected funds are transferred to the authors for whom the readers voted.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Прием заявок на конкурс второго сезона премии начнется 1 сентября 2025-го и закончится 15-го октября 2025 года.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
В январе 2026 года Совет Экспертов объявит список финалистов. Читательское голосование начинается в тот же месяц. В феврале-апреле члены жюри читают книги-финалисты, а победителей Премии и читательского голосования объявят в мае 2026 года.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
В конкурсе второго сезона могут принимать участия произведения, изданные в 2024-м году. Произведения (роман, повесть, сборники рассказов и эссе, документальная проза), вышедшие отдельными изданиями или опубликованные в журналах. Номинировать на премию имеют право как издательства и редакции журналов, так и сами писатели или третьи лица (с согласия и письменного подтверждения автора). Тексты подаются к рассмотрению в электронном виде. Премия «Дар» открыта для всех авторов. Учитывая главные цели премии: продвижение современной русскоязычной литературы за пределами РФ и характер самого вознаграждение (грант на перевод) - приоритет будет отдаваться авторам, чьи произведения ранее не переводились на английский, французский и немецкий языки.
